have been active in advocacy efforts to increase female participation in politics as well on ending violence against women through community conversation. Samoa Returnees Charitable Trust: established by the Samoan government to assist the rehabilitation of Samoans previously living overseas who had been deported back. They provide counselling and run a variety of programmes including ‘Alternatives to Violence’, ‘Alcohol and Drugs’ and ‘Second Chances Initiative’. Samoa Social Welfare Fesoasoani Trust: established in 2016 and focuses on assisting offenders and members of the community in court case matters, counselling, immigration and providing legal advice. Samoa Victim Support Group: Initially established to provide assistance to victims of violence who had no family support. SVSG has expanded to provide a diverse range of services including counseling, shelter for victims of violence or abandoned children, support to the courts and welfare work. Samoa Family Health Association: delivers family planning and reproductive health services in Samoa through a permanent clinic in Apia and a mobile unit for rural areas. They also carry out awareness raising initiatives on various issues relating to sexual and reproductive health. Teen Challenge Samoa: Teen Challenge uses a faith-based approach to help teenagers and young adults deal with problems such as alcohol and drugs, depression, violence, sexual and reproductive health and peer pressure. Young Women’s Christian Association: aims to conserve culture and faith and promote positive change. In 2016 they ran the RISE UP programme which delivered training to women in rural and urban Samoan on leadership, sexual and reproductive health, healthy relationships, economic empowerment and human rights. Samoa Red Cross Society: Provides training to staff and village representative on GBV in Emergencies and is funded by UN Women to provide this technical expertise. 9.2.7.2 Samoa Victim Support Group The most active NGO in Samoa in this field is the SVSG. 95% of respondents to the SFSS 2017 noted they were aware of the work of SVSG around family violence compared to only 56% who knew of the work of the police. This fact alone demonstrates that SVSG are filling a gap where the police are failing, which is problematic in itself given the fact that Government should ultimately be responsible for key areas such as this.

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